Study: Women Likely to Pay More for Auto Repairs
Sometimes

Washington DC July 2, 2013; The AIADA newsletter reported that women are
likely to pay more for auto repairs than men, but are also more likely to
negotiate price concessions for the same repair work, according to a new
study from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.

According to The Detroit News, the study found that auto repair shops will
alter their initial price quotes if consumers—both male and
female—appear to be well-informed, uninformed, or poorly informed
about market prices for parts and repairs. This includes quoting higher
prices for women if they appear to be uninformed.

Our findings
suggest that auto shops may assume men know the market price for a given
repair, so they automatically grant it,” said Meghan Busse, associate
professor of management and strategy at the Kellogg School.

However,
they may not expect women to be knowledgeable in this area, so the
perception is they can charge them more.” The study used
“mystery shoppers” who asked—using
scripts—automobile repair shops for price quotes on a radiator
replacement for a 2003 Toyota Camry. Those scripts either targeted the
market price of $365; overestimated the market price, at $510; or said they
had no idea of what it would cost.

Click here for more on a study showing
women pay more for auto repairs.